Woodhaven’s Grapevine – Volume # 90

 

In this issue of The Grapevine:

• Our next Town Hall
• Forest Park Carousel landmarking
• Premiere of documentary on Woodhaven’s history
• Citizens’ Police Academy
• 102nd Precinct Gets More Officers
• New Skatepark on Atlantic Avenue
• Flag Day at St. Thomas
• Our Annual Fundraiser
• Queens Borough President Interviews and Appearances
• Radio Free Woodhaven – Guest Tonight
• Woodhaven Library Summer Programs
• Call for a Crackdown on Out-of-State Cars
• Free Basketball Camp in Forest Park
• NYPD Tip – The Dangers of Drinking and Driving
• Grace Baptist Church Bible School
• Bylaws Amendment

 

 

** Our next Town Hall will be on Saturday, July 20, 1 p.m., at a location to be announced.  Save the date and time on your calendar!

 

** Forest Park Carousel landmarking:  We were thrilled that the Forest Park Carousel this week was named a New York City landmark!  Click here for our press release praising this decision.  Before it was decided, the WRBA submitted testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission urging them to give the carousel this much-deserved recognition.  Click here to read our testimony.

 

** Premiere of documentary on Woodhaven’s history:  A group of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students from Saint Thomas the Apostle School produced a documentary entitled “Woodhaven: Diverse Backgrounds United in One History,” in cooperation with the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society.  The documentary’s premiere was met with praise, and also received a lot of attention.  Click here for photos, video, and other information about this terrific project and its well-attended premiere.

 

** Citizens’ Police Academy:  Five WRBA members graduated from the Citizens’ Police Academy, an in-depth 14-week program that provides extensive training and education about the NYPD’s work.  The graduated received their diplomas from Commissioner Ray Kelly.  Click here to find out about it, and click here for even more photos and info.  The Citizens’ Police Academy is held twice a year; e-mail us if you’re interested in participating in the future.

 

** 102nd Pct. Gets More Officers:  It was reported that the 102nd Precinct will receive 10 more officers, which is a very welcome boost.  The precinct has also created a new Forest Park detail.  Click here to read coverage of this issue, which we hope and expect will help make Woodhaven safer.

 

** New Skatepark on Atlantic Avenue:  The London Planetree Park (a.k.a. 88th Street Park) has undergone major renovations to transform it into a top-notch place for skaters and others to have fun and practice their moves.  The park had its ribbon-cutting ceremony last Sunday.  Click here to learn more and to see the beautiful new park.

 

** Flag Day at St. Thomas:  Two weeks ago, St. Thomas the Apostle School held a terrific Flag Day ceremony.  Each of the students and guests received an American flag, courtesy of American Legion Post 118.  Click here for photos and video of the ceremony.  On a related note, the WRBA will soon host a receptacle where you can discard your old flags.  Flags should never be thrown out and there is a proper protocol for disposing of them. The receptacle, a retired mailbox, will be placed in front of the WRBA Office at 84-20 Jamaica Avenue and will be painted with bright red, white, and blue paint.

 

** Our Annual Fundraiser will be held on the evening of Friday, September 20, at Joe Abbracciamento Restaurant.  There’s still a lot of time before then, but save the date now!  More information soon.

 

** Queens Borough President Interviews and Appearances:  Many of the candidates for Queens Borough President have either spoken with us or attended our Town Halls.  Click here to see the candidates make their case to Woodhaven.

 

** Radio Free Woodhaven will air tonight.  The guest will be Lisa Colangelo from the NY Daily News.  She will discuss the history and eventual landmarking of the Forest Park Carousel, as well as the Queens Borough President Race.  Listen in by clicking here tonight at 10 p.m.

** Woodhaven Library Summer Programs:  The Woodhaven Library has a lot going on this summer.  Click here to learn about the events and programs the library is hosting in July and August.

** Call for a Crackdown on Out-of-State Cars:  Alex Blenkinsopp, our Director of Communications, wrote a column (click here to read it) explaining why authorities should crack down on out-of-state vehicles.  This is an issue the WRBA has tried to do something about in the past 

** Queens Tabernacle will be sponsoring a free basketball camp in Forest Park.  It will be held for several days starting Monday, July 22.  Click here for more information.

 

** NYPD Tip – The Dangers of Drinking and Driving:  It is even more dangerous than you might have thought.  Click here to read some sobering information and tips from the NYPD.

** Grace Baptist Church will be holding a five-day Bible School Vacation from July 22nd through the 26th, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily, for all kids, K through 6th Grade.  Bible stories, games, crafts, songs and snacks.  Grace Baptist Church is inside Emanuel United (enter through 92nd Avenue entrance).  Call 646-208-1651 or visit www.gbcny.org for more information.

** Bylaws Amendment:  The WRBA is looking to update and revise its bylaws.  To facilitate this, it is proposing a change to the amendment process.  This amendment will be voted on at the next two Town Halls.  To learn more, click here.

 

Until next time!

 

Your friends and neighbors at the
Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association

 

woodhaven-nyc.org

718-296-3735

Visit us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Proposed Amendment to WRBA Bylaws

The Bylaws of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association require considerable revision in order to keep pace with the organization’s current operations. The Bylaws have not undergone substantial amendment in nearly two decades, meaning that they no longer reflect many of the realities of today’s WRBA, especially on matters of technology and organizational structure.

Thus, the Board of Directors seeks to amend the Bylaws to make them contemporary. As they stand now, the Bylaws require amendments to be voted on at two consecutive open meetings. Because the Bylaws need to be overhauled, the amendments would consume almost the entirety of two Town Halls and would delve into minutiae unlikely to be of interest to the WRBA’s general membership. Thus, the Board of Directors is proposing an amendment to the Bylaws that would streamline this overhaul process.

The Board of Directors unanimously approved the amendment below. This amendment will be proposed and voted on at the next two WRBA Town Halls (i.e., in July and August) before it can take effect. Any members with questions should contact the WRBA.

Current text of the Bylaws:

ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENT OF THESE BY-LAWS

Section I     All Amendments to the By-Laws must be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors for their approval.

Section II     All Amendments approved by a majority of the Board of Directors present will then be put to the Membership at The next two consecutive meetings for a two-thirds vote of those in attendance.

Section III     Notice must then be given in writing to the membership in our Newsletter.

Section IV     The Secretary will then give notice by both announcing at the next regular meeting and by Newsletter, the final Decision on said Amendment to the By-Laws.

The proposed amendment would replace Sections I through IV of that text with the following:

Amendments to the Bylaws may be made by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. This bylaw will be in place until a complete ratification of the amended Bylaws.

Testimony Supporting Landmarking Forest Park Carousel

The WRBA teamed up with the Woodhaven Cultural & Historical Society to submit testimony to the Landmarks Preservation Commission.  We testified in favor of making the Forest Park Carousel a landmark.  Below is the text of our testimony.

Thank you to all members of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, especially Chairman Tierney, for the opportunity to offer testimony.

This testimony is being submitted jointly by two organizations.  The first is the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA).  The WRBA, founded in 1972, works on behalf of the residents of Woodhaven, a neighborhood in Queens.  The WRBA serves as an advocate for Woodhaven residents, promotes neighborhood spirit by bringing together residents and local leaders, and seeks to engage all in the betterment of our community.

The second organization is the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society.  The Society was formed in 1992 to protect, preserve, and promote the history and character of Woodhaven.  The Society has erected markers around the neighborhood at locations of historical interest, and has published books about Woodhaven history and the local area, including the well-regarded monograph The Story of Woodhaven and Ozone Park by the late historian Vincent Seyfried.

Both the WRBA and the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society wish to express strong support for designating the Forest Park Carousel a New York City landmark.  The carousel is part of our community’s identity.  The ride is a beautiful work of art, a historic specimen that embodies our community’s heritage, and a form of entertainment that has amused generations of Woodhaven residents.

The period during which the carousel was shuttered resulted in a void in our community.  In recent years, the WRBA and the Cultural and Historical Society had fought to make the carousel operational again.  These efforts took a variety of forms, including working with our elected representatives, writing letters to city officials, petitioning, organizing rallies of support in-person and online, publicizing the cause in the media, and even creating a popular “Save the Forest Park Carousel” t-shirt.  As you can imagine, it overjoyed us to have the carousel back when it was reopened last year.

Now, landmarking is an appropriate next step in ensuring that current and future generations of Woodhaven residents will be able to experience and enjoy the carousel.

The Forest Park Carousel, like most great works of art, can be appreciated on multiple levels.  Children who have ridden it—including some of our Board members in their younger years—love the colorful menagerie of horses, tigers, and lions.  Aficionados of wood carving regard those same figures as masterpieces.  No wonder: they were whittled over a century ago by the hands of Daniel Carl Muller, a master of his craft and a major influencer of American carousels.  And devotees of the area’s history enjoy how the carousel is decorated with beautiful paintings depicting settings in Woodhaven and the rest of Queens.

The Landmarks Law makes designation contingent upon a site possessing “a special character or special historical or aesthetic interest or value as part of the development, heritage, or cultural characteristics of the city, state, or nation.”  There is no doubt that the Forest Park Carousel meets this standard, and we steadfastly believe that any knowledgeable Woodhaven resident would agree.  The “Save The Forest Park Carousel” Facebook group,[1] administered by the WRBA and the Cultural and Historical Society, has over 1,300 fans, many of whom have shared with us their own fond memories of the carousel.

We were happy—but unsurprised—to learn that the Forest Park Carousel is regarded by experts as “a rare jewel” and that Roland Hopkins, editor of The Carousel News & Trader, “estimated there are only about 160 antique wooden carousels left in the nation and only about 100 of the same caliber as the one in Forest Park.”[2]  In the opinion of connoisseurs and lay admirers alike, the Forest Park Carousel is truly something special.

Last summer, the reopening of the carousel was a heartwarming occasion.  Despite steady rain, a large crowd showed up for the inaugural ride of the restored carousel.  And in the weeks that followed, with much nicer weather, even larger crowds flocked to the attraction.  Many newcomers to Woodhaven, who had no recollection of the carousel because it had been closed for years before they moved to the neighborhood, had the chance to enjoy and develop memories of their own.  Granting landmark status to the Forest Park Carousel will not only draw welcome attention to this gem of Woodhaven; it will create a guarantee—backed by the protection of the law—that our community will remain home to the carousel for years to come.  We would applaud those outcomes.

The WRBA and the Cultural and Historical Society firmly support New York Carousel Entertainment LLC’s stewardship of the carousel, and we have been very happy to work with the company to preserve the ride and make it an attraction once again.  They have received deserved praise for their efforts to revitalize the carousel and to make its surroundings a fun and family-friendly environment.  As strongly as we believe the carousel deserves landmark designation, we certainly would not want such a status to make it economically impractical to continue operating the carousel.  It would be a Pyrrhic victory indeed if landmarking the carousel meant it could no longer be run and maintained profitably by a responsible vendor and would therefore need to be shuttered again.  Thus, we have been happy to learn that granting landmark status would likely not interfere with New York Carousel Entertainment’s good work in Forest Park, and we urge the Landmarks Preservation Commission to work with the company to ensure that remains the case.

In the view of the WRBA, the Cultural and Historical Society, and thousands of our Woodhaven neighbors, the Forest Park Carousel is already a site of rich historical significance and a continuing source of delight.  We wholeheartedly encourage the Commission to make it official by designating the carousel a New York City landmark.

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[1] To view the page, log into Facebook and visit www.facebook.com/pages/Save-The-Forest-Park-Carousel/109323995785650.

[2] Lisa L. Colangelo, “Civic group starts new push to get historic Forest Park Carousel landmark status,” New York Daily News, Nov. 29, 2011, available at http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/queens/civic-group-starts-new-push-historic-forest-park-carousel-landmark-status-article-1.983644.

Dangers of Drinking and Driving

 

Dangers of Drinking and Driving

 

Did You Know?

 

Every 2-hours, three people are killed in alcohol-related highway crashes.

 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, National Highway Transportation Safety Administration alcohol-related highway crashes account for approximately 15,000 deaths each year.  That’s over 40 percent of all highway related fatalities.

The consequences of drinking and driving:

• Arrests
• Lost of employment
• Property damage
• Injuries
• Deaths

It’s the beginning of the summer season and we are all looking to have some fun in the sun. Golfing, barbecues, pool parties and family vacations, all things we look forward to enjoying. Don’t let alcohol get in the way. The Crime Prevention Section would like to give you the following tips on how to intervene if someone you know is about to drink and drive:

• If the person is a close friend, try to use a soft, calm approach at first.  Suggest that he/she had too much to drink and it would be better to let someone else drive or to take a cab.
• Be calm. Joke about it.  Make light of it.
• Try to make it sound like you are doing them a favor.
• If the person is somebody you don’t know well, speak to their friends and have them make an attempt to persuade him/her to hand over the keys.  Usually, he or she will listen.
• If the person is a good friend, spouse or significant other, tell him/her that if they insist on driving, you are not going with them.  Tell them you will call someone else for a ride, take a cab or walk.
• Locate the person’s keys while he/she is preoccupied and take them away.  Most likely, he or she will think they lost the keys and will be forced to find another mode of transportation.
• If possible, avoid embarrassing the person or being confrontational.  This makes them appear vulnerable to alcohol and its effects.

Arrive Alive.

Don’t Drink and Drive.

Woodhaven’s Grapevine – Volume # 89

In this issue of The Grapevine:

• June Town Hall – this Saturday
• Flag Day at St. Thomas – this morning
• 102nd Pct.’s New Community Affairs Officer
• Forest Park Carousel Landmarking
• Woodhaven History Project
• School Sisters of Notre Dame
• Eliminate Illegal Front-Yard Driveways
• Great Woodhaven Yard Sale
• NYPD Tip of the Week – Outsmarting Phone Thieves
• Last Grapevine’s Poll Results
• Woodhaven Noise Survey
• Radio Free Woodhaven

** Our June Town Hall will be this Saturday, June 15, 1 p.m., at the Woodhaven-Richmond Hill Volunteer Ambulance Corps (78-15 Jamaica Avenue).  We hope you come!

** Flag Day ceremony:  St. Thomas the Apostle School will be hosting its 10th annual Flag Day ceremony this morning (Friday, June 14), at 10 a.m. in the 87th Street schoolyard.  Flags will be distributed to all the children and guests, compliments of the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary of Woodhaven.

** 102nd Precinct’s New Community Affairs Officer:  Congratulations to Officer Brendan Noonan, who has been promoted to Community Affairs at the 102nd Precinct.  We have worked with Officer Noonan in the past and have a high level of confidence in his abilities, just as we do with Officer Jose Severino.  We believe they will make an exceptional team that will benefit all of our communities.  Good luck to him!

** Forest Park Carousel Landmarking:  On Tuesday, New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission held a hearing about designating the Forest Park Carousel a landmark.  Click here to read about the potential landmarking.  The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association supports making the carousel a landmark, and will submit written testimony to the Commission in favor of doing so.

** Woodhaven History Project:  A group of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students from Saint Thomas the Apostle School produced a documentary entitled “Woodhaven: Diverse Backgrounds United in One History,” in cooperation with the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society.  The film premiered at the Cinemart Theatre in Forest Hills on Monday, to great success.  Click here for a Daily News article about the project.  There will be another screening of the movie on Tuesday, June 18th, from 7 to 9 p.m. in the 88th Street cafeteria of St. Thomas the Apostle.  There will be a $2 charge at the door.

** School Sisters of Notre Dame:  WRBA President Ed Wendell wrote this column about the excellent and noble work being done right here in Woodhaven at the School Sisters of Notre Dame Educational Center.  Read it!  And click here to find out about a fundraiser the School Sisters will be holding next month.

** Eliminate Illegal Front-Yard Driveways:  Some residents and homeowners have paved over their front yards and started to park cars there, although it’s against the law.  Click here to read a column by the WRBA’s communications director, Alexander Blenkinsopp, about this issue.

** The Great Woodhaven Yard Sale Committee will meet for the first time on Thursday, June 20, 7 p.m., at our office at 84-20 Jamaica Avenue.  This committee will plan and organize the Great Woodhaven Yard Sale for 2013.  It will be a fun committee to be part of.  If you’re interested in joining, drop us a line!

 

** NYPD Tip of the Week – Outsmarting Phone Thieves:  Some advice on how to prevent your phone from being stolen.  Click here for more information.

**  Last Grapevine’s Poll Results:  “Which Lewis was Your Lewis?”  68.75% (110 votes) voted for 85th Street.  31.25% (50 votes) voted for 90th Street.

**  Woodhaven Noise Survey:  If you haven’t taken it yet, please spend a couple of minutes to complete this survey we prepared to gather some basic information about noise in Woodhaven.

** Radio Free Woodhaven:  We’ll be back to our normal time this week.  Click here at 10 p.m. Friday to join us.

Until next time!

Your friends and neighbors at the

Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association

woodhaven-nyc.org

718-296-3735

Visit us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Crime Tip: Outsmarting Phone Thieves

Outsmarting Phone Thieves Smartphone thefts have increased sharply in recent years in New York City due to their popularity around the city, the country, and the world.  Smartphone’s are in high demand- whether new or old-and the high monetary return makes them especially appealing to thieves. The Crime Prevention Section would like to give you detailed steps you can take to outsmart a Smartphone thief: When using your Smartphone in public: Stay in a constant state of readiness; stay alert to lurking predators and unexpected dangers. Avoid leaving your phone on the table at restaurants, bars, and coffee shops. Avoid leaving your phone in an open handbag and never hang the bag over the back of a chair when out at a store or café. Do not call attention to yourself by walking with your Smartphone in hand when not in use. When traveling by bus or train remain alert and remember that most thefts on public transit occur near bus and train doors. Register and lock it up: Register your Smartphone with tracking apps. (Example: iPhone users – “Find My iPhone”, Android users – “Where’s My Droid”, and “Look Out”) antitheft apps allow you to remotely lock your phone, wipe it clean of sensitive information and even remotely set off a high-pitched phone alarm. Register your Smartphone with the NYPD Operation ID program at your local Police Precinct. Ask for the Precinct, Crime Prevention Officer. Password protect your Smartphone. Know your numbers: Smartphone model number, serial number and International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) number. o   Note: Save where you can easily retrieve them F.C.C. maintains a full list of carrier contacts for reporting stolen phones: AT&T customers call 1-800-331-0500; Verizon, call 1-800-922-0204; Sprint, call 1-888-211-4727; and T-Mobile, call 1-800-937-8997. Informational videos on how to safeguard your electronics, they are available below: Electronic Devices PSA Safeguarding Your Electronics For further safety tips, please visit www.NYPDCommunityAffairs.org or by calling the Community Affairs Bureau at 646-6105323. (JK:jd/mr/td) Contact: NYPD Community Affairs Bureau 1 Police Plaza, New York NY 10038 | 646.610.5323 Email: coityaffairs@nypd.org

Forward this email to a friend This email was sent to projectwoodhaven@aol.com by communityaffairs@nypd.org | Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. NYPD Community Affairs | 1 Police Plaza | New York | NY | 10038

Woodhaven’s Grapevine – Volume # 88

In this issue of The Grapevine:

• June Town Hall – TBA
• Woodhaven Noise Survey
• Safety Event on Saturday
• Woodhaven Tree Update – We Need Your Help
• Grocery Auction at Emanuel on June 7th
• Graffiti Cleanup – Update
• Memorial Day Ceremonies
• Anniversary Day
• Remembering Lewis of Woodhaven
• WRBA Poll Question of the Week – Which Lewis Was Your Lewis?
• GWDC Spring Dance
• Woodhaven History Project
• Radio Free Woodhaven – SPECIAL TIME – Click Here Friday At 11 PM
• NYPD Tip of the Week – Tips to Prevent Home Burglary
• Great Woodhaven Yard Sale
• The Joe Virgona Photography Club – June 2013

** June Town Hall – TBA.  We are still scheduling the June Town Hall meeting.  We will send out a special announcement shortly.

** Woodhaven Noise Survey.  With the warm weather comes more noise.  Please take a few moments to take this short survey that we have prepared to try and gather some basic information about noise in Woodhaven.

**  Safety Event on Saturday.  Assemblyman Mike Miller and Senator Joe Addabbo are hosting a Safety / Health Event at the Forest Park Bandshell parking lot on Saturday from 10 AM to 2 PM.  NYPD Safe Child ID Cards, VIN Etching, Cell Phone, laptop, iPad registration, NYU Mobile Dental Van, Free Bike Helmets (while they last), Animal Alliance (microchips), Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Fidelis, Red Cross, and lots more!

** The Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association is leading an effort to bring more trees to Woodhaven.  You can click here to request a tree.  So far our efforts have resulted in about 15 tree requests.  However, the WRBA needs your help in tracking 82 locations where the city says that trees are to be planted.  We can’t be everywhere — so we need your help to watch locations you pass frequently and let us know when a tree is planted.  Click here for details.  Please respond – we do need your help.

** There will be a Grocery Auction at Emanuel United Church of Christ on Friday, June 7th at 7:30. PM in the Upstairs Hall.  For $8.00 you get cake, coffee and 50 chances to win groceries of your choice.  This is always a great, fun night out!

** Graffiti Update.  Many thanks to everyone who has volunteered to take part in our effort to rid Woodhaven of graffiti.  We just received a delivery of paint – we will be contacting volunteers by next week to schedule some cleanup tours.  Many thanks to all for their patience.

** Memorial Day – The Memorial Day Services around Woodhaven were beautiful.  Click here for a giant update with pictures and video.

** Anniversary Day.  Typically, the first Thursday in June was Anniversary Day, and there was a HUGE parade through Woodhaven.  One of our members, Madeyln Roesch, wrote and article for last year’s Leader Observer — we bring it to you here, along with an amazing collection of photos from Woodhaven’s past.  Click here to enjoy.

** Remembering Lewis of Woodhaven.  Here is a look at Morris Variety, owned and operated by a man that learned the ropes at Lewis of Woodhaven — and you can tell that by just walking into the store.  Click here for a bunch of nice pictures and an article.

** WRBA Poll Question of the Week: — We have one that’s bound to unleash controversy.  Since we were speaking of Lewis of Woodhaven, which Lewis was your Lewis?  Your opinion?  Click here to register your vote!

** Last Grapevine’s Poll Results:  Muni-Meters — are they better than the old meters?

• They’re a Pain – They Old Meters Were Better 11 Votes or 61%
• I Like Them – They’re Better Than The Old Meters 4 Votes or 22%

And we had a number of other suggestions that got 1 vote each:

• 1 vote for “Not good for handicapped people”
• 1 vote for “They are better when they are working”
• And 1 vote we couldn’t print.

** GWDC Spring Dance – On Friday June 7, GWDC will hold their annual Dinner Dance at the Woodhaven Manor Caterers (formerly Cordon Bleu), newly renovated and under new management at 96-01 Jamaica Avenue.  The tickets for this great party with music are priced at only $65 for a wonderful evening of enjoyment with good food, good music and good company. Please call (718) 805-0202 for reservations and ticket purchases.   Click here for more information.

** Woodhaven History Project.  A group of 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students from Saint Thomas the Apostle School have produced a documentary entitled “Woodhaven:  Diverse Backgrounds United in One History,” in cooperation with the Woodhaven Cultural and Historical Society.  The film will be premiering at the Cinemart Theatre in Forest Hills on Monday.  Due to the limited availability of tickets, there will be another screening of the movie on Tuesday, June 18th, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the 88th Street Cafeteria of St. Thomas the Apostle.  There will be a $2 charge at the door.

** Radio Free Woodhaven.  This week we’ll be on at a special time — 11 PM.  Click here at 11 PM Friday to join the fun.

 

** NYPD Tip of the Week – 5 Tips to Prevent Home Burglary.  Some tips on how to protect your home.  Click here for more information.

** The Great Woodhaven Yard Sale Committee will meet for the first time on Thursday June 20th at 7 PM at 84-20 Jamaica Avenue.  This committee will plan and organize the Great Woodhaven Yard Sale for 2013.  A fun committee to be part of — if interested in joining, drop us a line!

** The results of the May Projects for the Joe Virgona Woodhaven Photography Club are in – and we will be posting 2 new pictures every day.  All throughout June you will see pictures from one of our fine local photographers in one of the following 3 categories: (1) Red, White and Blue, (2) Reflections, and (3) Numbers.  Click here to start your tour.

Your friends and neighbors at the

Woodhaven Resident Block Association

Phone 718-296-3735

Visit Us On Facebook

Follow Us On Twitter

Woodhaven Noise Survey

Noise has been a persistent ongoing problem in Woodhaven — and now that the warmer weather is here, we’re bound to hear more of it.  We’d like to try something here, a survey — we hope to gather some basic information about noise in our community.  Please take a few moments to fill out this brief survey.

How Many Times Has Noise Disturbed Your Peace in the Last Year?(required)

-- Choose one -- 1 time 2 -3 times 4 - 5 times More than 5 times

Did You Call 311?

-- Choose one -- Yes No

If you called 311, did you get a response?

-- Choose one -- All the time Most times Some times Never

If you called 311, did you save your complaint number(s)?

-- Choose one -- Yes No

What were the major source of noise that disturbed you?

Loud parties

Car Radios

Construction

People Playing in the Street

Other

When does disturbing noise most frequently occur?

-- Choose one -- Morning (6 AM to Noon) Afternoon (Noon to 6 PM) Evening (6 PM to Midnight) Overnight (Midnight to 6 AM)

Please leave additional comments here:

Name

Email Address

Submit

Δ

 

WRBA Poll: Which Lewis Was Your Lewis?

There were 2 Lewis of Woodhaven stores – one at 90th and Jamaica and one at 85th and Jamaica.  Only 5 blocks separated them – but to some residents of Woodhaven they were night and day (but both wonderful).  You will encounter residents who will insist that one was much better than the other — so we’re going to see how you feel about it — it’s

Woodhaven Tree Watch – We Need Your Help

The WRBA Parks Committee had their 2nd meeting this week and reviewed tree planting requests.  Our recent efforts to seek input from residents resulted in 15 requests which we will be tracking.  We will bring you an update on these requests in a future post.

Right now we are asking your help in tracking the tree requests that Parks and the City says are currently in the works.  There are 82 Trees scheduled to be planted in Woodhaven and we do not have the manpower to constantly drive all over the neighborhood to see if they’ve been planted.

Here is how you can help.  Click here to see a list of locations we were given.

You can also view the locations on the map below:

You can also view an interactive version of this map by clicking here.

Each location has a number.  Please let us know which locations you can keep an eye on.  Either a location in front of your house, or in front of the place you work — or even just a place you know that you walk or drive past on a regular basis.  Send us an email at info@woodhaven-nyc.org and tell us which numbers you can help us with (“I can watch 31, 33, 47, 48, 49” etc.)

Please help us keep on top of this project — any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.